Diocesan Faith Formation Convocation provides enrichment and education to local Catholics

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SMITHFIELD — More than 800 people gathered at Bryant University last Saturday, March 18, for the 50th annual Diocesan Faith Formation Convocation sponsored by the Office of Faith Formation. Participants traveled from parishes throughout the diocese to attend the day of education, enrichment and spiritual reflection open to all Catholics.

Auxiliary Bishop Robert C. Evans began the day by leading diocesan priests in the celebration of holy Mass. In his homily, he spoke about sin and God’s mercy as portrayed in the Gospel story of the prodigal son.

“These words taken from today’s Gospel remind us that God the Father, like the father of the prodigal son, is a merciful God,” he told those gathered. “Like the prodigal son, we must be honest enough to admit that we have failed God and others.”

Following the Mass, participants chose from more than 30 speakers who offered workshops and presentations on topics as wide-ranging as “Choosing Godparents and Sponsors,” “Why Does Ecology Come Natural for Catholics?” and “Penetrating the Silence of Mary.” The presentations, offered in English and Spanish, included both general keynote sessions and small-group breakout sessions for interactive learning.

Msgr. Stuart Swetland, host of Relevant Radio’s “Go Ask Your Father,” continued the theme of turning away from sin and worldliness in a general session titled, “Bringing our Catholic Faith into Everyday Life.” Referring to the story of the rich young man who asks Jesus what he must do to gain eternal life, Msgr. Swetland emphasized the need to devote oneself to holiness and turn away from the temptations of worldly living.

“The world offers us comfort. It offers us pleasures. But we weren’t made for comfort and pleasures, we were made for greatness,” he said. “And as Catholics we know that greatness is being the saints we were meant to be.”

Several other speakers also touched on themes of devotion to a life of holiness, including Father Michael Gaitley, author of “33 Days to Morning Glory,” who offered a general session on Marian consecration. Father Gaitley, who said he first consecrated himself to Mary in college and has struggled to live out that consecration throughout his vocation, encouraged his audience to consider devoting themselves to the Blessed Mother.

“If our mother Mary used me, then she can definitely use you,” he said. “This mother wants all her children, it’s for everyone.”

Many participants attended the day’s sessions on ministering to elementary and high school-aged young people and individuals with disabilities, hoping to take away ideas for their own religious education classrooms. Lauri DiRocco and Lynn Tzitzouris, catechists from St. Anthony Church, North Providence, said they especially enjoyed Robin Carney’s presentation on teaching the liturgical year.

“We said we were going to put a prayer box in our classroom as soon as we left,” said DiRocco, citing one of the ideas from the presentation.

“We’ve been coming every year. We learn a lot from it,” added Tzitzouris.

Linda Doran, a parishioner at St. Patrick Church, Providence, said she had gained much from her attendance at the convocation over the years, having attended as a member of several different parish ministries.

“I’ve been attending these Faith Formation days for many, many years as a catechist, as a SPRED catechist, as a lector and as a Eucharistic minister,” she said, adding that this year, she attended simply for her own personal enrichment.

Doran said she felt particularly challenged by Msgr. Swetland’s talk on bringing faith into everyday life, as it presented the idea that all people are called to serve God. Speaking at lunchtime, she said she looked forward to concluding the day with Eucharist adoration in the afternoon.

“I’m thrilled that they’re going to have Eucharistic adoration later,” she said. “I really am appreciative of the diocese that they do this.”

In addition to the sessions, participants also had the opportunity to hear music by Revive Ministry and Ryan and Elizabeth Tremblay, receive the sacrament of reconciliation and meet vendors from ministry groups and religious goods stores. Father Christopher Murphy, assistant vocation director for the diocese, led Eucharist adoration in the campus Interfaith Center in the afternoon.